The Messier Project unveils new M11 Pro helmet

February 17, 2012

Odessa Jackalopes forward and Army recruit Willie Faust is just one of the hundreds of NAHL players that wear the M11 helmet.

The Messier Project, a collaboration between hockey icon Mark Messier and the head protection experts at Cascade Sports, announces the launch of the M11 PRO, a new evolution of the brand’s game-changing M11 hockey helmet. Built around Cascade Sports’ revolutionary Seven Technology, the M11 PRO’s new, streamlined design, aggressive styling and enhanced features offer advanced protection and pro-level performance.

The M11 PRO made its on-ice debut at the NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game on Dec. 31 as Messier — along with 11 other former New York Rangers and three ex-Philadelphia Flyers — wore the new helmet during the outdoor game. The helmet will hit store shelves across the U.S. and Canada in April and be available at leading hockey specialty retailers.

Players of all skill levels and ages will get a special hands-on preview and be able to try on the M11 PRO at the North American Hockey League (NAHL) Top Prospects Tournament in Troy, Mich. on Feb. 17-22, 2012. The Messier Project will have a demo and information booth in the main lobby of the Troy Sports Center during the event.

The M11 helmet has revolutionized head protection since its release in 2009. Today, more than 650 hockey teams and associations across North America — including all 26 teams in the NAHL — wear and trust the M11. These players and teams are part of The Messier Project community, sharing a passion for the sport of hockey and a commitment to making head protection a top priority.

Designed and manufactured at Cascade’s new Liverpool, N.Y. facility, the M11 PRO is a direct response to feedback from The Messier Project community over the past year. It offers the same, advanced protection as the M11 in a new, sleek, streamlined design for elite performance.

“I’ve long said that when it comes to protection in the sport of hockey, the helmet is an athlete’s most vital piece of equipment,” said Messier, a six-time Stanley Cup champion. “The Messier Project’s rapid growth over the past two years is a testament to the fact that priorities in our sport are finally starting to change.

“The hockey community is listening and we in turn are listening to our players. Since Cascade Sports makes all of its products in the U.S., we were able to react quickly to develop the new M11 PRO, which brings the performance level up to match the advanced level of protection.”

Like the M11, the M11 PRO features Cascade Sports’ Seven Technology, a revolutionary impact attenuation liner system designed to more effectively manage energy transfer from direct impact. On impact, Seven Technology compresses to laterally displace energy and within seconds, it completely resets to ready for the next impact. Hockey is a multiple impact sport, and Seven Technology is proven to have total material reset and performs better than EPP on successive impacts*.

In addition to its advanced protection, the new M11 PRO is built for elite performance and extreme comfort. The M11 PRO’s new, streamlined shell features a lower profile, sleek side lines, aggressive styling, and improved liner ventilation. The new helmet also features an enhanced Pro Fit system, now called the Pro Fit 2. First introduced in Cascade Sports’ top-selling line of lacrosse helmets and updated for the M11, the Pro Fit is a 15-point, no tool micro-adjustment system for a truly customized fit. The new, high precision Pro Fit 2 system in the M11 PRO features an ultra-compact, tapered design for an enhanced 360° fit that eliminate pressure points for increased comfort.

The M11 PRO will be available in a full size range (s-m-l).

In addition to the launch of the M11 PRO, The Messier Project’s mission to better protect the players has continued during 2011-12 hockey season with education on the important factors that contribute to – and affect – helmet performance. The “Get Tuned” educational campaign, which launched at the 2011 Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament, has expanded across North America with a grassroots marketing program and a public relations campaign aimed at hockey players, coaches and parents. Helmets are high tech gear, and just like your sticks and skates, proper care is essential for maximum performance – and when it comes to helmets, protection is performance.

For more information on The Messier Project, the M11 PRO, the M11 and the “Get Tuned” campaign, visit www.themessierproject.com.

*Cascade Sports’ testing shows that the Seven Technology (liner system within the M11) typically performs 26% better than traditional EPP foam (the liner material within a standard hockey helmet) after the first impact, 107% better than EPP after the second impact and 140% better than EPP after the third impact.

About The Messier ProjectThe head protection experts at Cascade Sports and hockey icon Mark Messier joined forces in 2009 to create The Messier Project. The mission of The Messier Project is to address the issue of head injuries and concussion, which has become an epidemic in hockey, through public awareness, product development, and equipment education. A player advocate and lifelong leader in the game of hockey, Messier took an active role in the design and development of the M11 and M11 PRO and is leading the charge to make head protection a top priority in the sport and to promote safe play. The Messier Project continues to enlist the hockey community in an important quest to change priorities in the sport – from the professional level to youth hockey. To learn more, visit www.themessierproject.com.